Minimum age of XO cognac debated – Regulation could change again

In three years’ time the minimum age of XO cognac is set to change to 10 years in the cellar but this was agreed before the recent Asian cognac boom.  The Asian taste for luxury cognacs is already affecting supply of the older varieties so insisting that XO cognac must be aged another 4 years in barrels is unsustainable.  The poor availability of older cognacs means that the big four houses would be unable to supply sufficient quantity of the older XO cognacs required in the growing Asian market.  Their heavy influence on the ruling body is almost certainly going to see the decision revoked.  During the last decade we have seen the average age of XO cognacs decline sharply from up to 20 year old eaux de vie being used, to well under 10 year old, which is now the norm.